Slavonic

Originally published as “Slavonic Cards No.501” by The Colour Printing Plant, St. Petersburg, in the 1920s and printed by chromolithography (right) these Russian playing cards depict strong and vivid costumes of Ancient Russia.

They have been republished many times since then by various manufacturers for different European markets, with or without frames and with several alternative Jokers and back designs.

Some loss in the quality of the original artwork can be noted in more recent re-prints.